Cultivated cacao producer Kokomodo has partnered with Chocolats Halba, a division of Switzerland’s Coop, to explore the integration of Kokomodo’s cacao into sustainable confectionery products. The collaboration will evaluate the functionality, sensory performance, and scalability of the ingredient in industrial settings, facilitated by Kickstart Innovation.

Using a cell cultivation process, Kokomodo selects premium cacao beans cells and grows them in bioreactors, ultimately creating a biomass that can be processed into various formats. This technology aims to address cacao shortages and rising prices caused by severe weather events, providing a stable, year-round supply of sustainable cacao. Through this partnership, Kokomodo is looking to redefine cacao as a sustainable, future-proof ingredient that supports global food systems and validate their technology at scale with industry leaders like Chocolats Halba and Coop.